“I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic, fatal fire on Denwood Avenue in Northeast Baltimore early this morning. The surviving family members have experienced an unspeakable catastrophe, and our entire community must support them during this very difficult time. I ask all the citizens of Baltimore, especially neighbors in the Frankford community, to pray for the victims and keep the family in their thoughts. They will need our continued care and assistance as they mourn the loss of their loved ones.

City response workers, including Baltimore Housing, the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods are on the scene, along with the American Red Cross, working to provide needed services to the family while fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.

Fire Chief Jim Clack and I are enormously proud of the heroic efforts of our firefighters, who responded to the scene within minutes and rushed into the blaze to do everything possible to reduce the loss of life. Two of our firefighters were injured while attempting to rescue victims inside. In addition, earlier, at a separate fire on Bonsal Street, three firefighters were also injured—one seriously burned. Our prayers are with all of them as they are treated and begin to recover.

As a city, we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent fatal fires by ensuring that every home in Baltimore has working smoke alarms. If you, your relative, or a neighbor is in need of free smoke alarms, please call 311 today.”